Singapore

I know you have all been waiting for this moment… Just kidding, I am excited to finally tell you guys about my little vacation in Singapore up to the situation I am currently in. 

But let’s start with my flight to Singapore. During that flight I still could not believe that I was doing it. So, while watching movies, I had to remind myself repeatedly that I was not in my room chilling but far away from there… in an airplane… After my first movie I became tired and slept for a couple of hours what I do not usually do while surrounded by strangers. Because of this the flight went by rather quickly and lucky for me without any turbulences.

The weather in Singapore was hot and humid you could say tropical.

I was driven to my hotel but did not stay there for too long so that I could start that evening with seeing a bit of the city. Lucky for me two different areas, first the Arabian Street, second Little India were located closely to my hotel. I visited the Arab Street in the evening where everything was justcoloured with different patterns, all together beautiful.

Little India which I visited the morning after was colourful as well and filled with different types of smells (probably because of their many spices). Since it was early and I wasn’t feeling thatwell, I shortened the visit of that area. What I can add is, that it packed with people, even in the morning (9-10 am)although not every shop had opened by then. Also like the Arab Street, both have terraced houses but in Little India it goes on for much longer.

After a short break in the hotel, I walked to Chinatown which was a foot walk of over 45 minutes. This area was a lot greener than the other two, although I did spend more time there. I walked through someof their parks and stopped in front of several restaurants. But my stomach was not having it.

So, I decided to go to my next stop. But this time I was not walking the distance but decided to use the train for the first time. Since I don’t own an actual credit card, but a Debit Mastercard, new issues arose which I than easily evaded by buying an ezlink-card, which only costs 10 dollars including a 5$ credit on the card. Compared to the German Tickets that is basically nothing (one ride only costs about 1.50S$).

At Geylang, another city district, I then visited the SingPost Centre where I bought a delicious strawberry Bubble tea.

When I left the mall, it started to get windy, so I decided to sit down at a bench and just enjoy that fresh air before going back to the orchard road which is located near China town. It was there that I realised that Singapore already started decorating for Christmas and while walking down the road it was impossible to miss how far they were with thesepreparations.

But then the funniest thing happened, they turned on the lights to early, at least I think that this is what happened because after just 5 to 10 minutes they turned them off again and left them that way for the next 2 hours. Additionally, on that road are quite a few malls and I did gointo one, the Orchardgateway. Comparing the two malls I’ve visited by then I realized that the malls are pretty similar tothe ones in Japan, they’ve got shops for cute “accessories” which I rarely see in Germany, a lot of food-shops and stores for trendy clothing.

After continuing my walk, I finally decided to go back to my hotel, not only because the sunset was almost over, but also because most of the shops were starting to close anyway. On my way back I had my first actual meal in Singapore (If we forget about the breakfast-buffet), chicken-curry with rice, which tasted so good that I ate it the day after as well, but at a different restaurant. If you wonder what it tastes like.. It is spicy… I could not actually “taste” the curry, but the texture was good… and the chicken tasted very good as well… I don’t know… (^-^;

The second night was the worst. I don’t know what these noises where, but my theory is that A LOT OF PEOPLE used the toilet between 4:30 and 5:30… because there was this banging noise which sounded exactly like the bathroom door closing (I tested it). Because of that I did not sleep well causing me to have breakfast at 8am which I wanted to have earlier. That is because I wanted to visit Sentosa for the wholeday. But because of my belated breakfast I only got there around 10am causing me to stay close to the Universal Studios gate so that I was able to get there as soon as they open. Luckily there was a Starbucks very close to it, so, I got myself a drink and then went to a staircase filled with rabbits, it kind of felt out of place, because everywhere you saw preparations for Christmas and then there is a bunny staircase… XD

But enough about that, Universal Studios was one of the best highlights. Even though I really dislike rollercoaster I went on four or five different ones (which made a lot of fun), although it must be said that they were firstly not too fast and secondly without any loopings.

But the most fun where the attractions containing simulations, even though I lost my phone in the 4D-Theater. Never ever will I put it in my pocket again when I visit one of those (I hope that I don’t have to explain what kind of stupid mistake I did) … Another display that was a lot of fun was the WaterWorld-show. It was funny even before the show began,with kids in the front rows getting drenched because of the staff pouring buckets of water over them. The actual show then also included the front rows to be victimized and bombarded with water. I was about to get out without being hit by water at all. But one of the staffs (while playing with a child from the front row) got me, while walking up the stairs. (There were rows who are located further above which can be used if you do not want to get wet at all. So do not worry, if you go there, you can go away completely dry, but what is the fun in that. It is around 30 degrees there any ways, you’ll be dry in no time.)

That day I also went to the Siloso Beach. Really pretty, but easy to walk along in a timespan of 30-60 minutes. Sadly,while there I did not see one otter, my favourite water animal who are supposedly living in that area.

Another chance that I had but again did not use correctly (or so it seems), was the next day at the Gardens by the Bay. Where I went before being able to check in at my second hotel, Marina Bay Sands(MBS). The missed otter-viewing opportunity was on my way back, before that I went to the Heritage Gardens and the Supertree Grove (metallic trees in the middle of the garden that can be used to look over the garden, but also to catch rain-water to reuse it, as well as, converting solar energy and taking in some of the air absorbing and dispersing the heat), but because of a few bad reviews that I read and the time-limit that I had, I decided to get a ticket for the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest instead. The Flower Dome was filled with different types of plants, while the Cloud Forest currentlyholds an exhibition using the newest avatar-movie. I love how they mixed both themes, not only putting different figurines in between plants but trying to match everything with their given area.

After I left the Cloud Forest I decided to go to my room, which by then was ready, because I heard rumbles of thunder. I checked in and went to my room for about two hours, before walking through the gift-shop. After that I decided to visit the Observation Deck which people who are staying at MBS can do for free. After taking enough pictures I finally made my way up to get to the pool. The thing I was so excited about was great. It had a good skyline!

But sadly, it was not really used for its original purpose (swimming; that is what a pool is supposed to be used for, right?), because everyone was just walking through the pool, with their phones in their hands taking pictures. Me too, for the first 30 minutes, after that I decided to swim/walk through the entire pool looking out for angles that I needed to take a picture from. Afterwards I got my phone and went back to the positions to take those pictures. When the clock finally showed 8pm, the lightshow began, but everyone around me was just yelling or talking loudly etc. So, I decided that if I could not hear the music of that show anyways, I could just watch it from my room, which I did. After that fail, the lightshow at Gardens by the Bay was even better. It was pretty and well timed to the music.

Afterwards I hurried back to the hotel, since I had a reservation at LAVO for dinner. There I ate pizza and drank a cocktail. Since the day went on for quite a long time, I woke up late, at 9am, since the breakfast buffet was having their last walk in at 10, I really hurried to get ready, eat enough to make it worth the price and go ready for check-out (11am). The best thing at the breakfast buffet was the fruit buffet, so many different exotic fruits, it was delicious.

After all of that I drove around town with the Big Bus Tour, hearing all lot of intel about the places I have visited over the last couple of days. Followed by the last attraction I visited in Singapore. TheSingapore Flyer. A beautiful Ferris wheel showing another skyline, this time with the MBS on it.

Sadly, my luck with good weather was challenged at the end resulting with me having to run from the Ferris wheel back to the hotel while it was raining cats and dogs. Afterwards I was drenched from head to toe… My shoes had it the worst, I can still feel some of the wetness…

The flight went by, this time not as smoothly (one BIG turbulence, way too scary) and since I checked in later this time, the best thing that I could get was a middle seat on the right side. I at best slept 2 ½ hours maybe even less. Now,after finding the Sydney Super Shuttle that got me to my hostel, I am currently feeling EXHAUSTED! But I checked in, got everything done, e.g., my SIM-Card including the mobile data. After waiting for at least 4 hours and writing this blog post I am now sitting in my room thinking about what to do next.

Love you all.